Graduate school

See also

Research at the Department for Continuing Education

The Department has an active interdisciplinary research community, particularly with respect to public engagement and practitioner-based initiatives which build on the research interests of our academic staff and over 80 research students.

Introduction to Coaching

Overview

Helping anyone interested in using coaching, whether professionally, as a life skill, or to achieve better results in their work with others. Thought provoking and practical, we explore the theory and skills of good coaching.

Whether you are just curious about coaching, have a little understanding of what it involves, would like to develop some core skills in it to use in your work, or think it might be useful in parenting, or as a life skill, this is the course for you. In a supportive environment, we shall explore the core skills, the mindset necessary to be an effective coach, understand the boundaries of coaching, and what you need to do to protect yourself and your 'client'.

Regardless of their starting point, participants will have plenty of opportunity to put their learning into practice and should emerge with solid skills, the ability to self-assess and improve, and the confidence to apply coaching in ways that they have not previously tried. Some students may wish to go on to the Advanced Coaching Course, but the Introduction stands alone and should leave you ready to work in your chosen way.

Programme details

Term Starts: 3rd October

Half Term: 24th October

Week 1: Defining coaching and its outcomes.

Week 2: Coaching as a teaching and learning tool; the role of reflective practice.

Week 3: Core skills for coaching.

Week 4: Coaching 'models'.

Week 5: Observation and feedback.

Week 6: Protecting the client and ourselves.

Week 7: Different coaching contexts and third party relationships.

Week 8: Using 'assessments' to find substantial development needs.

Week 9: Psychological insights and coaching.

Week 10: How coaches develop; review; future plans.

Background Reading:

Starr, Julie, The Coaching Manual: the Definitive Guide to the Process, Principles and Skills of Personal Coaching

Rogers, Jenny, Coaching Skills: A Handbook

Bates, Bob, The little book of big coaching models

If you are planning to purchase books, remember that courses with too few students enrolled will be cancelled. The Department accepts no responsibility for books bought in anticipation of a course.

If you have enrolled on a course starting in the autumn, you can become a borrowing member of the Rewley House library from 1st September. If you are enrolled on a course starting in other terms, you can become a borrowing member once the previous term has ended.

Recommended reading

All weekly class students may become borrowing members of the Rewley House Continuing Education Library for the duration of their course. Prospective students whose courses have not yet started are welcome to use the Library for reference. More information can be found on the Library website.

Certification

Students who register for CATS points will receive a Record of CATS points on successful completion of their course assessment.

To earn credit (CATS points) you will need to register and pay an additional £10 fee per course. You can do this by ticking the relevant box at the bottom of the enrolment form or when enrolling online.

Coursework is an integral part of all weekly classes and everyone enrolled will be expected to do coursework in order to benefit fully from the course. Only those who have registered for credit will be awarded CATS points for completing work at the required standard.

Students who do not register for CATS points during the enrolment process can either register for CATS points prior to the start of their course or retrospectively from between January 1st and July 31st after the current academic year has been completed. If you are enrolled on the Certificate of Higher Education you need to indicate this on the enrolment form but there is no additional registration fee.

Fees

Course fee: £337.50Take this course for CATS points: £10.00

Tutor

A PhD in animal behaviour, and initial career in organisation development - creating exceptional places to work - followed by psychotherapy training, led Graham to coach, write, and speak on leadership development, as an executive confidant for 20+ years.

Course aims

To introduce the essentials of coaching, and practice the core skills, in a supportive environment, so that participants will feel confident using these in their work, day-to-day life, as a parent or volunteer.

Course Objectives

1. To understand coaching as an educational tool helping others to achieve change in their lives.

2. To have the knowledge and skills to apply coaching in a variety of contexts.

3. To appreciate our own skill level and develop plans to enhance it.

Teaching methods

Large and small group discussion - variously led by the tutor and participants; self-reflection; triads; pre- and post-session tutor-led input via VLE (Moodle); online and offline peer dialogue.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course students will be expected to:

1. Be capable of explaining core concepts of coaching to a lay person;

2. Be able to assess the ethical considerations of a coaching scenario and how they would avoid/address them; and

3. Have a balanced perspective of their own coaching development and plans to develop themselves further.

Assessment methods

Students will prepare three short (500 words each) summaries during the course; the coaching vernacular, an ethical case-study, and personal reflections on their coaching journey.

Students must submit a completed Declaration of Authorship form at the end of term when submitting your final piece of work. CATS points cannot be awarded without the aforementioned form.

Application

To earn credit (CATS points) for your course you will need to register and pay an additional £10 fee for each course you enrol on. You can do this by ticking the relevant box at the bottom of the enrolment form or when enrolling online.

Please use the 'Book' or 'Apply' button on this page. Alternatively, please complete an application form.

Level and demands

Most of the Department's weekly classes have 10 or 20 CATS points assigned to them. 10 CATS points at FHEQ Level 4 usually consist of ten 2-hour sessions. 20 CATS points at FHEQ Level 4 usually consist of twenty 2-hour sessions. It is expected that, for every 2 hours of tuition you are given, you will engage in eight hours of private study.